Cabinet Mission (1946)

Cabinet Mission (1946)

• On 15 March, 1946 Lord Atlee (PM of England) made a historic announcement in which the right to self-determination and the framing of a Constitution for India were conceded.
• Consequently, 3 members of the British Cabinet – Pattrick Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and A V Alexander – were sent to India, known as the Cabinet Mission.
• Main features of Cabinet Mission were -

• Provisions for three groups of provinces to possess their separate constitutions.
• Proposed the formation of a Union of India, comprising both the British India and the Princely States.
• Union would remain in charge of only foreign affairs, defense and communications leaving the residuary powers to be vested in the provinces.
• Proposed setting up an Interim Government, which would remain in office till a new government was elected on the basis of the new Constitution framed by the Constituent Assembly
• Rejection of the demand for a full-fledged Pakistan

• Both the Muslim League and the Congress accepted the plan
• Consequently, elections were held in July 1946 for the formation of a Constituent Assembly.
• Congress secured 205 out of 214 General seats.
• The Muslim League got 73 out of 78 Muslim seats.
• An Interim Government was formed under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru on 2 September 1946